          The Henschel Hs129B-2 "Schlactflugzeug"

The need for close support, anti-tank aircraft on the Russian
Front was obvious and urgent.  One answer was the Ju87G-1
"tankbuster" ground support aircraft.  Another was the Hs129
series of "Schlactflugzeug" (literally close-support
aircraft).
With the availability of Gnome-Rhone engines after the defeat
of France, the A series was improved to the definitive B
series.  Slow by fighter standards, pilots also complained of
the reduced visibility of the cockpit and the lack of ability
by the engines to absorb battle damage.
On the plus side, firepower was significant.  The Hs129B-2
carried 2 x MG17 7.9mm machineguns with 500 rounds per gun,
and 2 x MG151 20mm cannon with 125 rounds per gun.  The
Hs129B-2 also carried either A> MK101 30mm cannon with 30
rounds, B> four additional MG17 7.9mm mgs with 250 rounds per
gun, C> or 4 x 110 pound bombs, D> or 1 x 551 pound bomb, E>
or 96 x 4.4 pound SD-2 antipersonnel bombs, beneath the
centerline.
On the wing racks were either 2 x 110 pound bombs or 48 x 4.4
pound SD-2 antipersonnel bombs.

The Hs129B-2/Wa ("Waffentraeger," meaning weapons carrier)
had a "waffenbehalter" (weapon drop) on the ventral side of
the centerline with either a MK103 30mm cannon, a BK 3,7 37mm
antitank gun, or the monstrous PaK 40 75mm antitank cannon
with 12 rounds of ammunition.  The use of the BK 3,7 or the
PaK 40 necessitated the removal of the 2 x MG17 7.9mm
machineguns.

Other weapons tested on the Hs129 include Wfr.Gr. 21 rockets,
Panzerblitz 1 and 2 rockets, and even a flamethrower!  But
perhaps the most interseting was the SG113A "Foerster-sonde"
(ranger probe) vertically launched automatic mortar.  The
SG113A was a rhomboid shaped container in which 6 individual
mortars were mounted, each with a single shell having a 77mm
soft metal jacket and a 45mm armor piercing core.  An
automatic triggering cell triggered the mortars, firing them
downwards, being actuated by the electro-magnetic field of
the enemy tank.(!)

HOW TO USE THESE PLANES:
The Hs129B-2 (the HS129B.EXP file) has the 2 x 7.9mm, 2 x
20mm, and a choice of 4 x 7.9mm or 1 x MK 101 30mm on the
centerline.  There is also the choice of the 1 x MK 103
cannon, which is technically a Hs129B-2/Wa, but for
historical accuracy that option was put on this mod, as it
the retained the 2 x 7.9mm in the nose.  Additionally, 2 x
110 pound bombs or 48 x 2.2 antipersonnel bombs are available
on the wings.

The Hs129B-2/Wa and the Hs129B-3/Wa are represented in the
HS129BW.EXP file.  The 2 x 7.9mm in the nose have been
removed.  The choice of a 37mm BK 3,7 represents the B-2/Wa,
and the choice of the 75mm PaK 40 cannon represents the
B-3/Wa.  This tank killing platform also includes the
optional SG113A ""Forstersonde" vertical mortar system.
Unfortunately, I could not get the automatic trigger to work,
so you must do it manually <G>.  Press "G" to go to the
gunner view, then "0" to go to the ball turret.  Press "A"
for autofire, which locks the ball turret into a straight
down configuration.  You now have your "sight" for the
SG113A.  Fly over a target building and switch to the ball
turret view.  When directly over the target (don't forget to
press "R" to arm the rocket) press enter to fire the SG113A.
It will fire straight down.  The mortar will not work at
altitudes above 500 feet or so (it will explode before
reaching the building).
I did not include the Wfr.Gr. 21 rockets as an option, as
they precluded the proper operation of the SG113A.

To use the Hs129B-2 instead of the Hs129B-2/Wa, merely trade
the HS129B.EXP file into the He162.SPC file.